Foreign Minister's speech a befitting reply to Nawaz Sharif, says Vikas Swarup

After Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Monday advised Islamabad to abandon its dream of separating Jammu and Kashmir from India, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said her today's statement at the 71 session of the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) was well-measured and fitting, and she has expressed New Delhi's vision on all those issues which are crucial to the international community.

"As you know that our Foreign Minister gives to the point answer and her today's statement was well-measured and fitting, and she expressed India's vision on all those issues which are crucial to the international community," Swarup told ANI here.

With Swaraj saying "jinke apne ghar shishe ke ho, unhe dusro par patthar nahi fekne chahiye (those whose houses are made of glass should not throw stones at others)", while responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statements at the UNGA on September 21, the MEA spokesperson said, "A few days back, the Pakistan Prime Minister on this very platform had given baseless statements against India; and today the Foreign Minister has given befitting reply to all those things."

"Moreover, she has said the countries sheltering terrorism, financing them and providing them with weapons, such countries do not have any place in the international community which, in my opinion, was a very important and powerful message that she delivered today," he added.

When asked whether he thought that Pakistan was isolated on the international platform, Swarup said, "That is evident. As you have seen when the Pakistan Prime Minister delivered his speech, his speech got no comments in their support; whereas there is a consensus in the world on India's statement on terrorism and there is a common consensus that fighting terrorism is, at present, utmost necessary."

On Balochistan also, the Foreign Minister commented on the atrocities committed there, he said.

Delivering a very strong message to Pakistan at the UNGA, Swaraj said, "My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

Responding to Sharif's statements at the UNGA, where he accused India of "committing brutalities in the Kashmir Valley" and hailed Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists Burhan Wani as "young leader", she said "On 21st September, the Prime Minister of Pakistan used this podium to make baseless allegations about human rights violations in my country. I can only say that those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression."

Going hammer and thongs at Pakistan, Swaraj said, "In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account. These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations.